It has been a long road, but at last we come to the end of Spartacus’ grueling, inspirational journey. We have seen the mighty Bringer of Rain through every trial and tribulation the snapping jaws of Rome has thrown at him from the very beginning: from life of freedom, to bitter chains, to killing them all, to feeding his enemies his blade, all the way to this final showdown with Marcus Crassus. Every season has seen the character of Spartacus evolve, and he who began this series as a simple man thrust into slavery, transformed into a bona fide legend of a war leader, championing a cause that seems so out of place in this bleak world of harsh Roman masters who can do with another human being whatever they wish on a whim. As the show progressed, the format seemed to shift; we began with life in the ludus, and gladiators seeking glory in the arena; come Vengeance, we moved to the battlefield, and with War of the Damned, we abandoned the arena and the villa completely, for now it was all-out, well, war. But you know, throughout the changes, some things retained a welcome familiarity: style, plotting and intrigue, awesome fight sequences, and most importantly, the importance of the characters, and the relationships they fostered among themselves. With every hell they suffered and overcame, their bonds were tempered with love and loyalty, and in the process absorbed us into their world until finally, we arrive at the close of this epic saga.

Quick aside: I have to confess: I have never seen the Stanley Kubrick film. Of course, that does not mean I don’t know of the “I am Spartacus!” moment. I was curious to see if it would appear in this final episode, and it was quite creative how Spartacus split up his forces, everybody pretending to be the man himself in order to confuse Crassus and Pompey, and thus getting their own “I am Spartacus!” scene. And is it just me, or did Liam’s sound amusingly reminiscent of 300’s “THIS. IS. SPARTA!”?

We all knew this episode would culminate in an all-out battle. Before this could happen, however, we were treated to one final—or should I say, the first and last—dialogue between Spartacus and Crassus, the night before the battle. These men have danced around each other all season long, maneuvering, scheming, one upping for all the long months; to see them have this one, brief, character-defining conversation was much appreciated. Oh, and Spartacus spills the beans about Kore murdering Tiberius. Back at the Roman camp, Kore admits the truth herself, and together with Caesar tells the whole story of the effect the Decimation had on Tiberius, and his subsequent lashing out in attempt to return equal wound to his father. It is a bitter revelation for the man, one which I thought might shake his nerve, and affect him for the coming battle; he certainly questions his own twisted and grotesque nature, if Tiberius truly was his father’s reflection. It turned out to be quite the opposite, however, steeling him even more in his staunch, uncompromising loyalty to the Republic. This is the man Crassus is, the man he will be for the rest of his life, one who, as Kore puts it, does what he must (I bet she wishes she had not said so once he has her crucified, nominally, at least, for her fleeting defection to Spartacus’ camp).

The final battle at last begins with the blaring of trumpets and the bloodthirsty roar of thousands of warriors, and the melee does not disappoint. As the official IGN review mentions, Game of Thrones’ fantastic Battle of Blackwater last year set a new, indisputable bar for what you can depict on the small screen, pushing if not shattering the boundaries of CGI and other special effects. I think it is safe to say, War of the Damned reached that bar in spectacular fashion. This was not just a mindless brawl, with rebels crashing upon legions like water upon rocks, but also one of tactics, and machines of war. Every moment was brilliant and pulse-pounding, whether it was seeing Spartacus lure the Romans’ front line into a hidden pit of spiked death, or the sheer domination of the Republic’s might as its catapults and ballistae rain grim destruction upon the comparatively less equipped rebels. Truly one of television’s most triumphant and exciting displays of ancient warfare on such a colossal scale.

Inevitably, as we all knew, many of our beloved heroes were not fated to survive this struggle. Lugo falls first, in, literally, a blaze of glory. Saxa is pierced through the gut and dies in Gannicus’ arms. Naevia is finished by Caesar, though I suspect she found some peace in the prospect of being reunited with Crixus. And then there is Gannicus, who has come, like Spartacus, on a full journey since Gods of the Arena. A champion, a free but broken man, an atoner, and now, at last, a leader willing to lay down his life not just because Oenomaus believed in it, but because he does. I suppose this is what he meant when he told Sibyl she had saved him, that her love or innocence had helped him accept his brother’s cause as his own (although, I’m not entirely sure how she did this; she fawned over him, and slept with him; Saxa did at least half of that, plus she brought Gannicus other women to share their bed). Alas, Gannicus fights like a demon, but eventually is overwhelmed, subdued by Caesar, and nailed to the cross. It was gruesome to have another crucifixion scene, but Gannicus’ final moments (seeing first the spectre of everyone’s favorite Doctore, then laughing joyfully as he envisions himself in the arena where he had been a god, where he had been home, the crowd cheering and chanting around him), were some of the most heart wrenching in an episode filled with tragedy.

In the end, Spartacus does confront Crassus in single combat, and the choreography in this scene is thrilling as always. Unfortunately, like Crixus, Spartacus is brought down by unworthy spears to the back from newly arrived troops, and as he nears his final moments—visions of his Sura, of Varro, and Mira flashing before his eyes, a reflection of the narrative and the character coming full circle—Agron and Nasir arrive and help remove his body while the stunned Romans regroup. Spartacus manages to survive for one last scene, where he awaits finally being called by his true name again once reunited with his wife. He dies peacefully (bearing an uncanny facial resemblance to Andy Whitfield, in my opinion), a free man who chose his destiny for himself, his passing bringing the rain one last time; a hero’s end, though a bittersweet one, for half of the refugees he had sent over the mountains earlier were ambushed by Pompey and brought to the crucifixions along the Appian Way. What a balm it was, then, that Agron and Nasir survive, along with Sibyl and Laeta, to carry the hope for the future. Agron especially shines in Spartacus’ last moments, promising that his name will live on long after Rome, and giving his shield to serve as the headstone of the hero’s burial mound. History says they never found the body, and the show beautifully demonstrates why.

As for the Romans, we finally meet Pompey, briefly, only for him to announce he has dispatched messengers to Rome taking credit for the defeat. Caesar is furious, but Crassus seeks to put this accursed war behind him, and keep his eye on the future, hinting, perhaps, at that future spinoff series that has been rumored? I would certainly be interested in it: Caesar has proven to have his own brand of honor, distinct from Crassus; where the latter “does what he must” by firing upon his own troops in order to bring down Spartacus, Caesar finds such tactics abhorrent. It’s an interesting contrast, to have Crassus’ primary loyalty be to the glory of Rome as a state, its concepts, its laws, at any cost, where Caesar has shown throughout the season an unwavering concern for the well-being of the actual Roman people. History, again, tells that he was popular among the middle and lower classes, and I think War of the Damned did a clever, subtle job in creating a Caesar who demonstrates the traits and virtues that would command such love in the future.

The credits roll, a montage of every character we’ve known, loved, hated (I pretty much lost it at this point), bringing a close to this fantastic historical drama with one last shot of Andy. Bloody, brutal, and powerful, this series has proven stellar, must-see television, one I highly recommend to others, and its absence will be sorely felt. Through all the ups and downs, from wheel-spinning moments to incandescent pinnacles of character and storytelling, it remained an emotional journey not to be soon forgotten. Starz gave us something special with Spartacus; here’s hoping Da Vinci’s Demons can follow in its titanic footsteps.

Score – 10

Closings

- My first reaction to the new weapon Nasir made for Agron: “Now it’s Reyn time!”

- I know I mentioned this above, but really, Liam bore a striking resemblance to Andy in those final scenes. I don’t know what it was, but it gave the conclusion an even greater impact.

- Probably should have put this somewhere above as well, but the reprise of Blood and Sand’s “No Life Without You” song, played as Spartacus looked at the map of Thrace, was also a beautiful kick in the gut. If there is not already a soundtrack for War of the Damned, I hope we get one soon.

- If I have omitted mentioning anything significant by mistake, it is simply that there was so much to cover in this finale, it’s easy to lose track. So, my apologies.

After a break in the action last week, we return to the stirring penultimate episode of Spartacus: War of the Damned. After Separate Paths’ emotionally devastating display, with Crixus’ final stand ending in his pitiful beheading by the cowardly rapist, this episode sure had some large shoes to fill, going in, and it delivers in superb fashion. It all begins with the return of the broken Naevia to the rebel camp, Crixus’ severed head at her side as cruel going away present. Throughout the season, we have seen just why Spartacus has become regarded, even by Crassus himself, as a formidable war leader, with his intelligence and insight serving as cooler counterbalance to the unbound, aristeic fury he wears like a flaming cloak of power on the battlefield: his refusal to take the bait of Crassus’ taunt and rashly risk the lives of his followers is illustrative, and due to, as he puts it, the fact that he does not stand only for himself. The character has come on a long personal journey since his days in Batiatus’ house, and now we see a leader who will put his people first and guide them to freedom, or die trying.

His next act? Sending his own men, disguised as Pompey’s, to Crassus’ camp, with mind toward getting the Imperator to go meet “Pompey” in his own camp and discuss a potential alliance against Spartacus. Crassus, rather than going himself, is ultimately convinced by Caesar to send his son in his stead. Thus does Caesar take his revenge for his rape last episode, recognizing the disguised messengers and holding his tongue. Long story short, Tiberius and his troop are ambushed, and I cheered.

Which brings us to the heart and soul of the events this week: the funeral games for Crixus. A tradition stretching back to the Iliad, and the contests held by Achilles in honor of the fallen Patroklos, this bloody celebration of the life and death of the Undefeated Gaul was a spectacular second half to the episode. Back to the sands we go, with Spartacus tearing through Tiberius’ captured Roman soldiers like a titan among ants, in another example of this season’s homages to the rebels’ days as gladiators. We even get a reprise of the epic “Rules of Combat” theme from the Primus’ finale in Gods of the Arena! Gannicus is certainly pleased, watching and subsequently participating in the bouts with the prisoners: to him, taking to battle on the sands, absent shackles of slavery, represents clarity, glory, and purpose in life. It makes sense. He is a warrior, and the sands are where he feels most at home.

The fights are thrilling, and the crowd watches hungrily; in fact, the scene would have mirrored the earlier occasions in Sinuessa, when the rebel hordes watched the innocent civilians fight each other for their amusement; they are effectively doing the same thing here, but, seeing as these are not civilians, but soldiers, and ones who killed Crixus at that, you can’t help but feel less uncomfortable. The soldiers slain, Naevia finally takes to the field to finish Tiberius. And it is a gratifying sight, to see the snake, arrogant even now about his own meaningless status, get his ass kicked. Plus, you gotta figure, the only greater humiliation for him than being beaten by a “slave,” is being beaten by a female one.

But wait! As she prepares the finishing blow and send another snake to join the one she offed last season, Spartacus halts her hand. For Caesar has arrived, on Crassus’ orders, to trade five hundred captured rebels for Tiberius’ life. And while Naevia spares him (demonstrating how far she has come in controlling her fury), Kore does not. In a dose of poetic justice, she stabs him from behind as he is about to depart with Caesar. While it did feel a bit anticlimactic (Tiberius, though no Ashur, was a similar type of villain it just feels so good to loathe, and now he’s gone just like that), it was appropriate that Kore be the one to commit the act. And what an impressively cold stare she gave him.

Thankfully, she doesn’t completely screw those five hundred rebels; she offers her own return in Tiberius’ place, having learned from the boy earlier that Crassus still wants her back. And indeed, he gives her a pretty impressive smooch when he sees her, grieving as he is for Tiberius, though he commands her to address him as Dominus from now on. Guess he’s still sore that she left.

We conclude with the closing of the funeral games; the blood seeped into the sand, a pyre is now built for Crixus’ head, and in a spellbinding scene, the roaring flames give the warrior a proper sendoff to the afterlife, as his name and those who have fallen with him are called out in memory, reaching a chanting crescendo as Spartacus promises freedom, or death in the trying. I have to tip my hat to Liam McIntyre, who in this one short scene gave a powerful, moving performance, looking and sounding every inch the magnificent leader. He has really come into his own this season as Andy’s successor, and as we move into the final battle of the series finale next week, I am glad he is our Spartacus.

Score – 9.2

‘tings

- I realize I didn’t mention Agron in the main review. Well, seeing him get crucified was definitely gruesome, even for this series, and honestly, I thought he was gone. I mean, you figure once a guy gets crucified, that’s pretty much it for him. But nope, he survived and was released in the end as part of the bargain; it will be highly repetitive if he bites it next week.

- I still don’t understand Gannicus/Sibyl. Not that their relationship was prominent here, but, yeah. When did he develop feelings for her again?

- It ends next week. I’m setting myself up for everyone’s death, but I hope some of our protagonists are spared the sword and the cross. No matter what happens, though, it has been a hell of a ride.

- Sorry for any errors I might have missed while editing this; was distracted by MSG's footage of the '73 eastern conference finals between the Knicks and Celtics.

Separate Paths — The title itself is an historical nod to how the real Crixus separated from Spartacus and remained with his own contingent in southern Italy.

So it comes to pass in War of the Damned, as has been expected for some time now. And as we near the series finale, with this event comes, for me, possibly the best, certainly the most emotional, episode of the entire season, and one that can stand tall beside any from Blood and Sand. It was an episode of many sentimental callbacks, partings, and thus, many farewell scenes for people—brothers and sisters in arms—who were not to know if they would ever see each other again. Gannicus and Crixus recalled times when the Undefeated Gaul, now leading his own army to march on Rome itself, was but a wet-eared rookie; Agron and Nasir shared a particularly touching scene, with the former telling the love of his life to stay with Spartacus, flee beyond the mountains and scatter in the wind as planned, and seek what freedom and happiness he may find there, for Agron is with Crixus, and battle to the end.

The most heart-wrenching goodbye, however, was surely that of Spartacus and Crixus themselves, two warriors, two brothers with a bond forged in blood and fire, and unbreakable. Though they do part ways, their respect and, dare I say, love for each other shines through in this episode, as they reminisce about their days in the House of Batiatus, their rivalry, their friendship, and ultimately, what is the freedom they have been fighting for. Indeed, prior to Crixus’ departure, after one last united villa sacking for old times sake, comes a nighttime carousal of feasting, orgies, and ebullient renditions of Gannicus’ favorite ditty, “My Cock Rages On” to celebrate it, with Crixus getting pretty philosophical. They have taught Rome what it means to be free, he says, and now the time has come for him to seize his destiny at the very city of Rome itself. Both actors did a fantastic job with the scene. Of course, it would have made so much more sense for them to remain a united force, rather than weaken both, but I guess Crixus really wanted to attack Rome.

So they depart.

What else happened among the rebel camp? Well, Spartacus and Laeta got together. Yeah, I guess we all saw it coming, though I still think it’s weird: he did kill her husband after all. Well, I suppose Spartacus has already f*cked Rome in more ways than one, but this adds a whole new meaning to it. He also discovered Kore and her identity, though not much came of that yet. Also in matters of the “heart,” we had Gannicus and Sibyl. Now, did I miss an episode? Because I don’t understand why one night of passion was enough for the two of them to become an item. Gannicus has no doubt had many such nights with Saxa, yet he seemed to drop their relationship rather quickly. And though she thankfully takes it quite well, it is still somewhat off putting. Where are they going to take this new relationship in the last two episodes? I will be very curious to see.

As for our Roman friends, I think one word can fairly accurately summarize the events this week: Goddamn! It begins with the always cool, controlled, stoic Marcus Crassus showing some chinks in stony exterior. As quickly becomes apparent, Kore’s seeming betrayal has shaken him quite deeply, unseating his wrath with such ease he beats Senator Metellus bloody. Obviously, he was not the cause of Kore’s defection, and we know that, and now, so does Caesar, who stumbles upon the truth. Caesar decides to hide the worse truth from Crassus, so his mind might be restored to reason in the fight against Spartacus. You know, in a weird way, Caesar has shown a sense of responsibility and maturity these last couple of episodes, even keeping his head on straight regarding defending Rome, and it’s kind of endeared him to me a littl—HOLY *$*# TIBERIUS RAPED CAESAR!!! Yeah, might as well get that out of the way. I’m pretty sure nobody saw that twisted act of dominance coming, for Crassus’ treacherous, cowardly son to do that to THE Julius Caesar. It was totally unthinkable, and was equally disturbing as the rape of Kore. Tiberius has really come into his own as the most despicable swine over the season, and no doubt Caesar will be seeking revenge in the coming week.

All these things considered, though, ultimately it is the episode’s final ten minutes that will surely remain firmly stamped upon the minds of this show’s fans everywhere. The last march of Crixus, the Undefeated Gaul. We knew it had to happen, especially after the earlier farewell scenes. But I was still ill prepared for the finale’s tragic impact. RIP Crixus and Agron, who, after a temporary victory in sight of Rome over Arrius’ troops, were set upon by Crassus and his. Inevitability can be cruel. Perhaps worst of all, the fact that both titans met their ends by sneaky back attacks from Tiberius, who then was given the undeserved honor of beheading Crixus himself, as seen ingeniously reflected in poor Naevia’s eye. The last loving look between Crixus and Naevia was poignant. Tiberius…I look forward to a violent comeuppance for you. And Manu Bennett, you have been a glorious pillar of this story since its birth. You will be missed in the final two episodes. At the very least, Crixus went out in a blaze of glory; the rousing speech he gave just before the battle was a beautiful send off of sorts, where he referenced Oenomaus’ “What lies beneath your feet?” and brought a tear to the eye with a callback to his erstwhile gladiator battle cry:

So says Spartacus in this week’s episode, and it perfectly reflects the culmination of sorts of the season long conflict between Spartacus and Marcus Crassus. Two leaders, both trying at every turn to out gambit the other, to hold out one hand in the open while the other moves secretly behind the back. And so far, Crassus has had the upper hand in these plots, constantly employing masterful trickery to catch his foes off guard, bringing Spartacus’ own plans to nothing time after time. Spartacus even admits as much: Caesar infiltrating Sinuessa and posing as a rebel, only to help the Roman legions break through the gates and retake the city; then again, turning Heracleo from the rebels to ally with the better paying Romans. Yet again, too, in this episode, when Spartacus and his small strike force fall for the trap in Crassus’ tent, finding the crucified, flesh-carved rebel before being ambushed by the Roman troops. Thankfully they manage to escape, but it proved another instance of Crassus’ tactics besting the Thracian.

"Nobody move. There&#Array;s a fly on my face."

It is Spartacus, however, who finally gains the last laugh at the close of the hour. First, he sees through Crassus’ use of a few men on the fortified wall to imply a greater force behind, and leads his own eager troops in ambush. Then, having employed what “savage” means he had left, he used the bodies of those lost to the frigid blizzard to bridge the trench that was trapping his people. To top it off, instead of immediately putting distance between themselves and their pursuers, the rebels remained for one last ambush, this time of Crassus himself. Of course, we have three episodes to go, so neither Spartacus nor Crassus was going to bite it just yet.

Nor, fortunately, did anybody else. I admit I was worried for Crixus when he charged that group of soldiers Leeroy Jenkins style, but ultimately, it was rather a chance for a scene where the former Champion of Capua could display his strength and show off a little. Pretty badass. This moment aside, we also had more tension between Crixus and Spartacus this week, again over tactical decisions for the army (“tactical,” in Crixus’ case, being used loosely). Crixus wants to charge and fight, even in the face of superior numbers, rather than risk a Roman sword in his back. Spartacus, meanwhile, cautions patience. They come to some pretty brutal blows (preceded by a deliciously hammy quarrel), but by the time of the aforementioned ambush of the Romans on the wall, they seem to have reconciled again, so I’m wondering how much of a lasting impact their fight will have. Regardless, it was cool to hear the two themselves reference their old rivalry at the school of Batiatus.

"YOU ATE THE LAST FIG!!!"

Then you have Gannicus, who, as Spartacus rightly asserted, was not to be killed by mere wind and ice. Nevertheless, I have to take slight issue with his and Sibyl’s completely expected roll in the hay…or, snow. I mean, come on. Sure, such an activity probably gave them some temporary warmth, but I imagine doing it in such a freezing storm would rob them of much needed energy afterwards! That was a pretty big risk they took, considering this. More seriously, I’m not sure how I feel about this matter regarding Saxa, who is perfect, and might have actual feelings for Gannicus these days, rather than just lust. Still, considering their past orgies, I’m withholding my opinion on how she will react to finding out. I am also curious as to what shadow Gannicus’ warning to the innocent Sibyl, that she avoid men like him, will cast into the future, now that she disregarded it.

On the Roman side this week, Kore took an unexpected spotlight of sorts. As her perfectly justified fear of Tiberius grows, especially with the latest news that she is to remain with him in Sinuessa once Crassus returns to Rome, she seeks a means of escape, and eventually is moved to action. Enter Caesar, who is understandably miffed about Tiberius’ reinstatement as his father’s word and will, which now places the boy in command of Caesar himself. Kore thus seeks him out, trying to tempt him into alliance against common antagonist. And it works! Sort of. He brings her to Crassus’ tent uninvited, where she attempts to gather the strength to confess to her lover what his son has done. But alas, she cannot, and this leads to the most surprising development: her defection to Spartacus’ side. On consideration, it makes sense. She cannot tell Crassus the truth for fear of reprisal, nor can she remain alone with Tiberius’ whose lecherous intentions are still crystal clear. I suppose she figures her safety best lies away from both of them. It was certainly interesting to see her eyes scouring the bodies of the Roman dead, no doubt with the faint hope in her heart of spotting Tiberius with them.

*If I keep my hood up, maybe they won&#Array;t see me*

With these developments in place, the remainder of the season promises to be quite exciting. However, while Spartacus finally outmaneuvered Crassus, as with stories of King Arthur and Camlann, the ending may be a tragically foregone conclusion.

Brain farts:

- Crassus’ boast to Caesar that it was he himself who took Sinuessa, through his machinations, serves to once again show what a dominant force the man is.

- Not really thrilled that Agron’s character arc or whatever you want to call it basically revolves around his jealousy.

- I do wish there was a way for Spartacus and Crassus to interact more. I think that could provide an exciting dynamic, impossible though it is.

This week marked a momentous occasion in War of the Damned. An event so earth-shakingly monumental the gods themselves shrink behind cloud in amazement and fear.

That’s right. Caesar shaved.

And while he remains a smug, slightly psychotic douche, at least he now looks the part of a young, future Roman dictator. Caesar was actually quite prominent this episode, starting, naturally, from the continuation of last week’s epic cliffhanger; the title card even shakes with the force of the gate being broken. The city, overwhelmed by Caesar’s cunning and Crassus’ forces, is lost to Spartacus, who manages to barely escape with his life under a dropping gate. From there, interestingly, we do not see much of Spartacus or his army for the rest of the episode. Much of the screentime is given this week to the Roman characters, with Crassus and Caesar celebrating their reclaiming of the city.

Crassus continues to be a hell of a magnificent bastard. Unfortunately for Spartacus and pals, there is just no fooling this adversary. Crassus is the perfect chessmaster. Refusing to fall for Gannicus’ attempted diversion of torched building; encouraging Caesar to be calm and stop moping that Spartacus escaped, perfectly cool and assured of their victory; persuading the Senate’s emissary to grant him the captured city via offer of villa for the man himself; asking Laeta for information so he might pierce through the veil of Spartacus the legend, and glimpse the truth of Spartacus the man. He’s got a good head on his shoulders, he does. In the end, it’s clear why Crassus is so confident, as even Spartacus can see they’ve ended up right where Crassus wants them: on the inescapable ridge. Nor does he plan to announce himself—sounds like a possible night attack, to me. Glaber may continue to be heckled as a fool who underestimated his enemies by the Romans themselves, but no one will say the same thing about Marcus Crassus. He knows that both he and Spartacus see themselves as hero and the other as villain, and that ultimately, history will be the judge.

As for his son…well, they’ll say some things. Quickly marching towards the dark side now, Tiberius is completely unrepentant about his rape of Kore, and of course hides it from his father. Hell, he even threatens her if she so much as spills a word about it. I tell you, it’s an awkwardly ironic scene to see him and Crassus exchange pleasant words and a hug with Kore right there; and haunting, moreover, to hear the boy, in response to Crassus’ praise, reply “I am what you have made me,” with us knowing all that that entails. His actions are unforgivable, but there is truth to his words: the Decimation has pretty much ruined him, blackened his heart to grief and hatred. The result is actually fascinating: the boy who wanted to become a soldier, rather than facing his rival Caesar like one, has been reduced to a conniver who deals in subterfuge in attempting to end Caesar’s, the real soldier’s, life; he unchains Lugo’s hands in secret as the rebel is about to be executed, to allow him a shot at the newly-groomed Roman. It doesn’t work, of course, but the would-be-hero Tiberius has just proven himself a shadowy backstabber that would make Ashur proud (or if not proud, then at least raise a brow in mild curiosity, before returning to revenge plots for Crixus). Eschewing the battlefield bravery that defines a soldier to, instead, work behind Caesar's back and employ underhanded trickery to achieve his goal; oh, how far he has fallen.

So, Caesar. Like I said, he was in this episode quite a bit, including some funny scenes of him taunting Tiberius with biting insults amid recently ended threesome, even offering Tiberius one of the girls for himself; but the younger Crassus is too moody for consensual sex these days, I guess (apologies for the dark humor). Even so, the difference between the two young men is more apparent than ever, both in their bearings and dealings, as I mentioned earlier; a difference, as Caesar puts it, like that between a mortal and a god. Ouch. Even I felt that one.

Together, these Roman characters carry about half of the episode. And though we do not see much of Spartacus, Gannicus is another story. The focus on him this episode called to mind Gods of the Arena. Volunteering to cause a distraction to allow the others to escape, everybody’s favorite formerly freed gladiator is left behind in the city after the rebel army has fled, and must guide Sibyl out of the city herself, as she was trapped when the Romans came, too. Their situation is incredibly tense. Gannicus and Sibyl are forced to hide underground while Roman troops scour the streets above, and, neither of these characters being Spartacus, death can come to them at any minute. Indeed, my gut clenches every time Gannicus squares off against Caesar, as happens again as he and Sibyl finally make their escape. I mean, you’re good, Gannicus, and you do slice your way through a good number of Romans this week, but Caesar has plot armor. Not even your sword can pierce that.

The Gannicus/Sibyl scenes were sweet, although, with four episodes left and Saxa still around, I can’t see where they might take it. What really stood out in this harrowing tale of flight, however, was how Laeta’s fate was woven into the tapestry as well. I’ve been wondering the past few weeks where her story might go—well, it certainly has gone. Brought back to the city and interviewed by Crassus, she is suddenly given to the miraculously still-living Heracleo as part of the payment for his services. Crassus cites her giving aid to Spartacus as an excuse, but that’s still cruel (I won’t say unusually cruel, since this is the man responsible for the Decimation here). Anyway, abruptly finding herself a pirate’s slave and would-be queen, Laeta is even branded with his mark. But Gannicus soon arrives on the scene, and this time I am almost entirely certain and positive that Heracleo is dead. That isn’t the interesting part, though. Robbed of husband and city, betrayed by Rome, and now even bearing the mark of a slave, Laeta now has nothing. What she suddenly does find in her possession, however, is a commonality with Spartacus and his army—all former slaves, under the heel of Rome. Like the imperator’s innocent boy, the Aedile’s wife is dead, and though I still am not sure where they plan to take her character, it has potential. As soon as she recovers from that nasty spear wound, that is.

A great episode, and with Spartacus’ forces now finding their backs against the wall, the shadow of Crassus stretching before them, next week will no doubt maintain the desperate tension the rebels have begun to feel.

Incidentals

- Ok, I couldn’t help but notice, but the condemned rebel Caesar fought—if he had the time, right as Caesar went in for the killing blow, to grab his sword and stick it in his neck, denying the Roman the pleasure, why didn’t he just stab Caesar instead? I know, I know, plot armor, but still. It was odd.

- Saxa seemed rather upset at Gannicus offering to stay behind; have more feelings developed than just carnal?

- Damn, never mind the wound, Laeta must be freezing in that dress.

- Good idea, Julius. I, too, would like some oysters right now.

- When Crassus asked Laeta what Spartacus had in place of horns and claws, I KNEW she was going to say “a wounded heart.” KNEW IT.

- Woohoo, a Gordian Knot reference! I bet Arrian would be a fan of this show.